Estrogen is the major female hormone. The typical onset of menopause is the late 40s due to the decreased levels of this hormone in the body. Joint pain and stiffness may be the primary symptoms of menopause. The decline in estrogen leads to a reduction in collagen‒a key component of connective tissue supporting joints, and a loss of cartilage. As a result, joints lose their protection against injuries, and inflammation and pain ensue.
If you are going through menopause, here are a few supplements to help you with your condition.
Glucosamine & Chondroitin
Joint connective tissue and cartilage have receptors for estrogen. Normal levels of the hormone keep joints in good health. As soon as estrogen level decreases, cartilage begins to deteriorate.
Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements prevent cartilage from degenerating by protecting chondrocytes ‒ mature cartilage cells in the joints. Thus prevent joint inflammation and joint pain.
Curcumin
Curcumin‒the active ingredient in turmeric, is a weighty pain-relieving substance. It has anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant properties. It has been reported to improve joint health in arthritis, osteoarthritis and other such patients.
Like Boswellia (another anti-inflammatory herb extract), it has been widely used in the ancient world as a painkiller. The therapeutic dose of curcumin is very high compared to what you eat in food. So you would have to take curcumin supplements.
Omega-3 fats
Omega-3 fatty acids have become very famous as anti-inflammatory supplements for their health benefits. They are a vital part of cell membranes and the receptors present on them. They can help regulate these receptors and decrease joint inflammation and cartilage deterioration. Thus, help reduce joint pain.
Vitamin D
One of the crucial functions of estrogen is to maintain the overall health of bones. Decreasing estrogen causes osteoporosis in females due to a decrease in bone density. Thus, the cause of your pain may be your weakening bones. Vitamin D helps prevent bone loss. It increases bone growth and maintains bone density by depositing more calcium. Vitamin D supplements are also helpful if you are already deficient in vitamin D.
A multivitamin
A multivitamin that contains most of the essential proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins may be the best choice for you. For example, if you take a collagen supplement but deficient in vitamin C, that supplement will not improve your condition.
Likewise, if you take vitamin D but are deficient in calcium, vitamin D will show no changes in your overall health. Many other vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin E, and minerals like Zinc, Copper and Selenium have also shown improvement in patients with joint pain.
You can not take all these supplements separately. Because they not only cost more but also make you feel like a chronic patient. Plus, there is no single supplement that works for everybody.
As a result, to make sure to give your body what it requires, you can choose to take a multivitamin. One such multivitamin is Solgar 7, containing all the necessary ingredients in perfectly balanced form.
